The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) has voted overwhelmingly to formally petition government authorities, rebuking their endorsement of irreversible sex change procedures for children.
The decision was made during the PCA’s 50th General Assembly, held recently in Memphis, Tennessee. The resolution, approved by a vote of 1,089-793, urges the government to renounce the sin of promoting these procedures and establishes a commission responsible for drafting the petition.
The PCA, which is affiliated with the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, recently experienced tragedy when a transgender-identifying individual, Audrey Hale, murdered three adults and three children.
The initial proposal to address this issue, submitted by the Evangel Presbytery based in Alabama, was drafted prior to the devastating incident. It cited scientific studies indicating that medical and surgical interventions of this nature contradict scientific evidence and highlighted a troubling 900% increase in gender dysphoria among girls, primarily influenced by contemporary social and cultural factors.
The resolution emphasizes the biblical belief in the creation of male and female by God, condemns cross-dressing as immoral and recalls Jesus Christ’s strong warning against causing harm to children. Reverend Bryan Chapell, the stated clerk of the PCA, expressed that the push for transgender procedures appears to be driven by a political agenda lacking both scientific and biblical support.
Reverend Fred Greco, moderator of the PCA’s 50th General Assembly, clarified that the denomination does not support transgenderism in any capacity. However, the debate surrounding the resolution revolved around the extent to which the church should engage in governmental affairs.
In accordance with the Presbyterian Westminster Confession of Faith, churches are encouraged to petition civil authorities only in exceptional cases. Proponents of the resolution argue that the government’s promotion of irreversible sex change procedures for minors falls into this category.
The denomination previously petitioned on matters such as abortion and the right to life. Greco warns against the government pressuring children to make life-altering decisions without parental input, deeming it a dangerous encroachment on parental rights.
To address the wording of the disagreements regarding the resolution, the PCA decided to form a commission tasked with drafting the final petition to be forwarded to federal and state authorities. Greco, responsible for selecting the commission members, intends to include multiple medical professionals. He clarified that the petition will focus solely on medical procedures and drugs related to transitioning, particularly concerning minors. The finalized petition is expected to be approximately two pages long and will not address issues such as biological men in women’s sports.
Greco also noted the pressing concerns in Canada, where the PCA has congregations.
Last year, the Canadian Parliament passed a law criminalizing counseling that does not affirm homosexuality or transgender identity, prompting widespread protests from churches across North America. Greco expressed the desire to find a mechanism for the petition to reach the Canadian government without violating the denomination’s polity.
The PCA, formed in 1973 by congregations primarily from Mississippi, Alabama and South Carolina, emerged in response to the perceived theological liberalism within the mainline Presbyterian Church in the U.S. Since then, it has grown to include over 375,000 members and more than 1,540 churches. In contrast, the liberal Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) has publicly supported transgender procedures for minors, petitioning Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear to veto a bill banning such procedures in the state. {eoa}
James Lasher is Staff Writer for Charisma Media.
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